Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Set To Release a 4-inch iPhone Model in Second …

A 4-inch iPhone 6 would be welcomed by many users (but will Apple deliver?).

Taking a look back at another week of news from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop looks at the potential for a four inch iPhone (possibly the iPhone 6C), wondering where the Beats streaming app for iOS is, Becoming Steve Jobs, the unsaid issues of the Apple Watch, Apple’s Chinese trade-in program, did Apple kill the iPad sales, and the conceptual Apple Drone.Recent reports of Taiwan’s handset supply chain claims, that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) plans to release a 4-inch iPhone model, cautiously referred to as iPhone 6C, which will replace its predecessor the iPhone 5C in the second half of 2015, through which Apple aims to target the entry level to mid range smartphone segment. Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read our weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes). Apple had same plans with iPhone 5C to build a strong presence in the entry-level to mid-range segment, and now Apple planned release will be the second time Apple try to dominate in that segment.

While the expectation is that the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus will be superseded by 6S and 6S Plus variants, the idea of a third handset is a touch more intriguing. It was said by the sources that the reason of lower-than-expected sales of the model 5C is adoption of a plastic case that made the iPhone look cheaper than its other family products. So far so good, but unfortunately there are two stupid flaws: Personally I think that it’s a pretty smart move for Apple to go with a 6C that is a generation behind. Where the 4S display had a 3:2 aspect ratio, the aspect ratio of the iPhone 5 series (the 5, 5S, and 5C) phones moved up to 16:9 with their 4-inch displays. While the iPhone 5S does have TouchID, it does not have the hardware to support Apple Pay, and Cupertino is putting a huge amount of focus on mobile payments.

Reports earlier this week claimed that Apple is now preparing to release not only new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus phones, but also a new iPhone 6c phone. In the emerging markets, such as India, Africa and Latin America, the shipment performance of iPhone devices has been flat, as these markets are highly concerned about the price. This would be a ‘new’ handset, it could be marketed as such by carriers and retailers, and all it needs is a new name to help the message… such as ‘iPhone 6C.’ Apple’s next release of iOS, iOS 8.3, is still in testing with Beta 4 now available to developers and interested parties.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock on 27 March traded at beginning with a price of $124.61 and when day-trade ended the stock finally decreased -0.80% to end at $123.25. Guess what, it’s not there! iOS 8.3 Beta 4 ships to developers continuing earlier iOS 8.3 beta support for a wireless version of CarPlay, Google 2-step verification, racially diverse emoji, filters for Messages (known/unknown senders), a UI tweak for the iOS keyboard and new compatibility for Apple Pay on the China UnionPay network. In addition there are expanded voice commands for Siri, including the ability to initiate calls over speakerphone and the ability to skip password entry when downloading free apps. Gordon Kelly wonders aloud if Beats is being pushed back to 8.4, but with the timing of Apple’s WWDC Developer event, squeezing in another iOS release looks unlikely. It could indeed appear in iOS 8.4 as some hope, though that would seem to a missed marketing opportunity with the hype of WWDC 2015 to follow shortly afterwards.

Lots of coverage on the book ‘Becoming Steve Jobs’ around the web, with the book being used to heap both bouquets and brickbats on the memory of Jobs and his time at Apple. You have to admit some of the hardware the Windows folks are putting out isn’t bad, especially when a hybrid computer can go from a MacBook Air form factor into a tablet form factor with a swinging hinge.